Should i start off with OTR flatbed?

Yes, 100 times yes. Some will say to learn to drive a truck then learn flatbed. I'm not in that crowd, if you got 30 or 40 brain cells connected together you can learn to do both. I did and started at the beginning of winter on top of it. It is hard work. Hot summers and cold winters, tarps that just wont cooperate, loads that will require constant stopping and adjusting. Wouldn't trade it!

 

I started as a rookie doing flatbed for a heavy haul (105,500 gross) company out of Oregon in January. If your going to do something, why not go big? I did six months of their 48 ft 3 axle flats and then trained and tested for LCV (Long Combination Vehicle) and was doing 40-20 A train doubles after that. I also ended up doing super B train Doubles and ended up with a 4 axle truck so I could do 4 axle 53 ft flats.

I drove in Canada, WA, OR, ID and Montana and it was the best experience I could ever get. After working for this company (and keeping a good, safe record) I got my TWIC and HAZMAT and some other credentials and made myself a very in demand type of driver. I now own a truck and trailer and haul all kinds of stuff on a 53 ft step deck.

I say DO IT! GO BIG OR GO HOME!

 

The main difference between the two is flatbed is more economy sensitive. They rely heavy on the construction industry. Building slows, so does the flatbed loads. This past recession it showed.

But it's alot easier to go flatbed to van than it is van to flatbed. The more versatile and knowledge you have, the more jobs you will have available.

 

The pay depends on the company so is it consistent? Why would it be any different than any other OTR job? Yes its steady, of course depends on company. Salary again depends on company but you usually get mileage pay, drop pay, load/unload pay and tarp pay.

For most drivers this would be hard to learn as you need good common sense along with the ability to shut yer yap and take notes. Be prepared to get your hands dirty

 

Please make sure you arent getting into this for the wrong reasons as you will probably hate every moment of it. Yes you can make some money but forget about that in your first year. First year rookies will make more than you in two weeks but you are living on the road and that cost money.

I see folks all the time with the big dreams of making it big in trucking and gosh its so easy, anyone can do it. They usually quit after a short time and go back to what they were doing before as they find out fast that its not that easy and not just anyone can do it. I would search these threads if I were you and make sure you are getting into it for the right reason and making sure it is something you want to do. You can always find a better job than WalMart anyday of the week but you have to be willing to work and get dirty.